Superior Filtration Leads to
Reduced Costs, Extended Equipment Life
SAE study
proved direct correlation between particle size and engine
wear
A great deal of
emphasis is placed on the importance of using the most advanced
high-quality lubricants, but superior filtration is often
taken for granted. The general attitude displayed by many
consumers is to use whatever is cheapest, even when they've
invested in superior lubrication. While AMSOIL synthetic motor
oils provide unbeatable protection, performance and economy,
they require the assistance of filtration. Without filtration,
by-products from the combustion process and abrasive materials
ingested from the air will ultimately destroy an engine.
Some Contaminants
Cause More Damage
The level of damage particles cause to an engine is directly
related to the size of the particles. The oil stream within
the engine flows between wear-sensitive surfaces that usually
have clearance of between 2 and 22 microns. It is contaminants
in this size range that pose the greatest threat as they can
slip between moving components, causing a great deal of wear.
To appreciate how
small these particles are, one must first understand the measurements
involved in their classification.
A micron, or micrometer,
is a very small unit of linear measurement. One micron is
equal to one millionth of a meter, and 25 microns is equal
to 0.001 inch. To better put this in pespective, consider
that the diameter of a human hair is 50 - 70 microns.
Large particles
are particles measuring one half inch or larger. They pose
little threat to engines because they are easily removed by
the air filter.
Medium
Particles are particles measuring 25 microns to one
half inch. While they are of greater concern than large particles
because they are more difficult to remove, the threat they
pose is diminished since they are still larger than many of
the clearances within an engine. Their size will not allow
them to enter the contact areas between many components to
promote accelerated wear.
Small particles
are particles measuring between 5 and 25 microns. Small particles
are of greatest concern because they can penetrate the clearances
between wear-sensitive components and promote accelerated
wear. And, because they are so small, they are difficult to
remove from the oil stream.
SAE Testing
In the 1988 Correlaring Lube Oil Filtration Efficiencies
With Engine Wear technical paper published by the Society
of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the relationship between oil
filtration levels and abrasive engine wear was established.
Testing determined that wear was reduced by as much as 70
percent by switching from a 40 micron filter to a 15 micron
filter.
The SAE conducted
tests on a heavy-duty diesel engine and an automotive gasoline
engine, and both provided consistent results.
New Technology
Provides New Options
The SAE paper on filtration discusses the introduction of
synthetic fibers into the oil filter market, which offer "the
capability of achieving high levels of filtration without
the traditional sacrifice of dirt holding capacity and increased
flow restriction." Today, a new pinnacle has been reached
with synthetic nanofiber technology and AMSOIL
Ea Oil Filters. While today's filters offer even greater
performance , the message then was the same as it is now;
removal of particles measuring 2 to 25 microns is the key
to controlling engine wear, and there is a direct correlation
between oil filter efficiency and engine wear.
Test Results
To establish a relationship between levels of filtration and
engine wear rates, the SAE used a variety of oil filter types
in its test. Three glass filters and one traditional cellulose-media
filter were used in the diesel tests, while one cellulose,
one glass and two glass/cellulose-blend filters were used
in the gasoline engine tests. The micron rating of each filter
was determined, and testing was conducted according to SAE
guidelines.
The filters were
tested at their 98 percent efficiency point and their single
pass efficiency curves were determined by comparing the number
of particles upstream from the filter with the number of particles
downstream. The engine wear rates demonstrate the correlation
between superior oil filtration and reduced engine wear. The
filters that provided superior efficiency also provided superior
engine protection.
Conclusions
The SAE paper summarizes the test results with the following
conclusions:
"Abrasive
engine wear can be substantially reduced with an increase
in filter single pass efficiency. Compared to a 40 micron
filter, engine wear was reduced by 50 percent with 30 micron
filtration. Likewise, wear was reduced by 70 percent with
15 micron filtration.
"Controlling
the abrasive contaminants in the range of 2 to 22 microns
in the lube oil is necessary for controlling engine wear.
"The micron
rating of a filter, as established in a single pass efficiency
type test, does an excellent job in indicating the filter's
ability to remove abrasive particles in the engine lube oil
system."
Today's
Most Advanced Filtration Product AMSOIL
Ea Oil Filters have been evaluated using today's benchmark
test, the ISO 4548-12 multi-pass test. AMSOIL
Ea Oil Filters provide 98.7 percent efficiency at 15 microns
and up to 70 percent efficiency at 7 microns. Competitive
filters range from approximately 85 to 92 percent efficiency
at 15 microns. When it comes to removing contaminants in the
most critical size range (2 to 22 microns), AMSOIL Ea Filters
greatly outperform competitive filters.
Summary
Even with all of the advances in lubrication and engine technology,
filtration is as important today as it ever was. The combustion
process produces by-products that slip into the oil stream,
and external contaminants are introduced into the engine in
a variety of ways. The challenge for filter manufaturers is
balancing flow, efficiency and filter life. In order to stop
particles in the 2 to 22 micron range, the pores in the cellulose
media used in many filters are too small to allow adequate
oil flow.
Only AMSOIL
Ea Oil Filters and AMSOIL
Ea Air Filters feature full-synthetic nanofiber technology.
It is the nanofibers that allow Ea Filters to provide greater
efficiency than any other filter available. Ea Filters stop
more particles, stop smaller particles and last longer than
any other filters available for auto/light truck applications.
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Premium AMSOIL
Synthetic Motor Oils offer the longest drain intervals
on the market, unsurpassed protection and performance that
effectively extends equipment life and improved fuel economy,
saving customers money at the pump and reducing the nation's
dependence on foreign oil.
"AMSOIL INC. warrants that the use of its lubricants will not cause mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when AMSOIL INC. products are used in full compliance with the company's recommendations and instructions."
AMSOIL
synthetic motor oils are formulated to surpass engine test
specifications, offering protection far greater than competing
motor oils for extended drain intervals. Most synthetic oil
manufacturers make no claim to extended drain intervals, deferring
to the maintenance schedule provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
With its unparalleled oil and warranty program, AMSOIL offers
consumers unprecedented protection and economics.
Another
AMSOIL First
More than 20 years
ago, AMSOIL began using the NOACK volatility test as a comparison
tool and measurement of quality. Back then, nearly every oil
tested side-by-side with AMSOIL synthetic motor oils failed,
and those that passed barely squeaked by. Other oil companies
paid no attention to NOACK results until Ford Motor Company
made it a requirement for service fill oils, validating what
AMSOIL had said all along.
THE
NOACK Volatility Test
The NOACK
Volatility Test determines the evaporation loss
of lubricants in high temperature service. The more
motor oils vaporize, the thicker and heavier they become,
contributing to poor circulation, reduced fuel economy
and increased oil consumption, wear and emissions. AMSOIL
Synthetic Motor Oil resists high temperature volatization
better than other motor oils. AMSOIL Synthetic Motor
Oil maintains peak fuel efficiency and reduces oil consumption
and emissions.
AMSOIL Now An ISO Certified
Manufacturer
AMSOIL recently
received ISO 9001:2000 certification of our Quality Management
System (QMS). NSF International Strategic Registrations is
the registrar that has verified our QMS meets the requirements
of the ISO 9001:2000 standard, the most widely utilized quality
standard throughout the world for quality management systems.
ISO standards are used by over 300,000 companies worldwide
setting rigorous standards for businesses, government and
industry.
ISO 9001:2000
is applicable to any manufacturing and service organization
providing a framework for system development that focuses
on the customer, quality system performance and ongoing improvement.
AMSOIL received ISO 9001:2000 registration under the scope:
synthetic lubricants blending, packaging, and other fulfillment
directly associated with lubricant product.
The ISO
certification puts AMSOIL in line with some of the most efficient
companies in the world. It is further assurance that the products
and services AMSOIL provides will continue to maintain the
high level of quality the company always demanded.
AMSOIL Product Information
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